After nearly six months of the White House being closed due to the epidemic, First Lady Melania Trump’s office announced that it would reopen the White House for public tours on the 12th.
The White House said that to ensure the safety and health of all visitors, the White House has implemented epidemic-prevention regulations consistent with federal, state and local governments: all visitors over the age of two are required to cover their faces and maintain a social distance; the White House will also post signs at entrances, exits and on the ground along tour routes to remind people of the regulations, and will provide hand sanitizer.
According to the White House, National Park Service, U.S. Secret Service and White House officials will also wear masks and gloves and interact with visitors at a safe distance during the tour.
As in the past, U.S. citizens planning to visit the White House must apply at least 21 days in advance to their state’s member of Congress, and foreign nationals must apply at their country’s U.S. Embassy. U.S. citizens should bring a valid passport, driver’s license, or military ID, and non-U.S. citizens should bring a valid passport, among other things.
The White House notes that tours are currently allowed from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and that the number of visitors is limited to 18 percent of the original number.
Washington, D.C., which is home to the White House, the Capitol, and many historical buildings and museums, has long been a popular tourist destination. According to the latest forecast released by the Washington Tourism Authority (Destination DC) on February 2, the number of visitors to Washington, D.C., has fallen sharply for the first time in a decade due to the new crown epidemic, with 11 million domestic visitors expected this year, half as many as last year. But D.C. Tourism Director Elliott Ferguson said he still believes Washington is an attractive city because of its strict adherence to public health regulations, which makes it safer than other destinations. He cited this year’s addition of the Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House as an example of a new tourist attraction in Washington that also has the opportunity to attract more visitors.
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